Incorporating salinity considerations in water availability modeling
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Date
2006-08-16
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Publisher
Texas A&M University
Abstract
This research focused on expanding the capabilities of the Water Rights Analysis
Package (WRAP) for incorporating salinity considerations in assessments of water
availability. A simulation modeling approach was used to address this issue and a
generalized simulation model called WRAP-SALT was developed. The Brazos River
Basin served as a case study to test the simulation approach adopted by the model.
The simulation model adopts a generalized modeling approach applicable to any
river basin system. The model tracks salinity throughout a river basin system over
different periods of time for alternative scenarios of water use, reservoir system
operating policies, and salt control mechanisms. The model was applied to the Brazos
River Basin considering different management scenarios and the results obtained were
analyzed.
Reservoir reliabilities were assessed under user imposed salinity constraints. It
was observed that the water supply reliabilities decreased significantly if salinity
constraints were considered. Salt control dams proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were also incorporated in the simulation of the river basin. It was observed
that salinity in the main stem of the Brazos River was significantly reduced. However,
no significant improvement was observed in water supply reliabilities.
Description
Keywords
Water Availability Modeling, Water Quality Modeling